NHL free agency 2017: Panthers will buy out Jussi Jokinen’s contract, per report

The Florida Panthers will place veteran winger Jussi Jokinen on waivers for the purposes of a buyout, per Fox Sports Midwest reporter Andy Strickland.

Jokinen, 34, has $4 million remaining in the final year of his contract. Per CapFriendly, the total buyout cost for cutting ties with him is $2,666,667; spread over two years, Jokinen’s buyout will charge $1,333,333 against the Panthers’ cap through the 2018-19 season.

Florida had over $20 million in cap space before Jokinen’s buyout, a far cry from the cap crunch they found themselves in after spending a ton of cash last summer to court free agents. The Panthers lost Reilly Smith (via trade) and Jonathan Marchessault in the expansion draft to the Golden Knights a week ago, they don’t seem interested in bringing back Jaromir Jagr, and they might move on from defenseman Jason Demers as well.

At least one report says the Panthers might be interested in bringing back Thomas Vanek. All of these changes seem to jive with NHL insider Bob McKenzie’s report this week of a “seismic” change in roster approach in Florida.

Jokinen spent the last three seasons in Florida, reaching the 60-point mark in 2015-16 before a major drop-off last year due to injuries and a poor team around him. He’s built a reputation for himself as a strong two-way player who excels in shootouts.